The Baths is a beach area on the island of Virgin Gorda among the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean.
Geography
The Baths is situated about south off Spanish Town at the southern tip of the island between Spring Bay and Devil's Bay. The Baths is an area of unique geologic formations (
batholiths) and one of the BVI's major tourist destinations.
Area
Although volcanism accounts for much of the Virgin Islands, The Baths was formed by
granite that
erosion into piles of boulders on the beach.
[ Excerpt from The Baths by Julian Putley ] Granite forms from the slow cooling of magma at depth nowhere close to surface volcanoes. The granite only appears at the surface after geologic ages have eroded away all the overburden covering it. Once exposed, erosion continued to isolate the granite into large boulders and round their surfaces. The boulders form natural
, tunnels, arches, and scenic
that are open to the sea.
The largest boulders are about long.
Since 1990, the area has been a BVI National Park [ Welcome to the BVI National Parks Trust – Parks – Virgin Gorda 2] as are the adjacent bays,[ National Parks | British Virgin Islands | Caribbean Destination | BVI] and the area is a major tourism attraction, with human swimming and snorkeling being the main attractions.
Gallery
Image:Virgin Gorda 12.jpg|The Baths
Image:Virgin_Gorda_Boulders2.jpg|Boulders at The Baths
Image:TheBaths RockFormation BritishVirginIslands Feb6-2000.jpg|Rock formation at The Baths
Image:VirginGordaTheBaths.jpg|Bay area at The Baths
Image:CaveAtTheBaths01.JPG|Underwater Cave at The Baths
Notes
External links
